330 



]SEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



[May 13, 



planted with white corn, and the other halt" with in^ it— ari<l then only by hanging the hlower, a 

 yellow corn, that the interchange ot Farina piece of sheet iron, on the upper bar ol'the grate, 

 would not prodace a visible eflccl ihe.ftist year. The grate was formed with a few bars or iron 

 If that was his meaning, it is a new tlieory to J for the bottom, and the front built in with bricks, 



me, and from my own ex()erience, as well as 

 from the experience of others, I presume he 

 was mistaken. A FARMKK. 



REMARKS BY THE EDITOR. 

 In ttie passive alhuled to by our correspondent, Mr. 

 Knight says " the colour of the sted coals in the blue 

 and yellow grain is not changed. It is the matter 

 which composes the cotyledons only which requires a 

 tinge from the operation of the pollen." To understand 

 this it may be necessary to say a word or two lespect- 

 iag the organization of seed. 



A seed consists of three parts, viz. the cotyltdon, the 

 radicle, and tlie phimula, which are usually enclosed 

 in a cover, v/hieh Mr Kni^lit calls the seed coal. If 

 we take a garden bean, we may perc^-ive each of these 

 three parts with the greatest ease ; for this seed is of 

 so large a size, that all its organs are very distinct 



the back and sides perpendicular, ami the bot- 

 tom of the grate ten or twelve inches from the 

 hearth. This simple contrivance, the expense 

 of which did not exceed a dollar, obviates all 

 the unj)le,isantness of a smoky house, made a 

 convenient aud pleasant fire for roasting, boiling, 

 and frying, and at a fourth of the expense of ivood. 

 The small space in which a large quantity of 

 fuel is contained, is another great convenience 

 attending Anthracite. It does not occupy one 

 tenth its equivalent in wood; for those who oc- 

 cupy single rooms or small houses, without the 

 privilege of a yard or cellar, to be able to put 

 into a barrel or box as much fuel as will make 

 a (ire for weeks, is no small advantage ; — on 

 hoard of steamboats and vessels going to sea this 



when we strip off the external coats,or seed cnats of the quality is all important. 



bean, which are two and of dift'eieiit degief-s of thick 

 ness in different parts, we find that it easily divides 

 into two lobes of pretty nearly the same size and figure. 

 Each of these lobes is called a cotyledon. Indian corn 

 has but one cotyledon, and the seed coat we sometimes 

 call the hull, which may be separated from the other 

 parts of the seed by boiling it. The cotyledon, or in- 

 terior part, according to Mr Knight" acquires a tinge 

 by the operation of the pollen," which may be seen 

 through the seed coat or hull, as the latter is semi- 

 transparent. 



ANTI1R.\CITE COAL. 



The following summary of the advantage? of Anthracite 

 coal for domestic purposes is extracted fiom the Min- 

 er's Journal. 



If it be desirable to keep an imiform degree 

 of heat in a mom, no fuel known will so com- 

 pletely and with so little labour and expense ac- 

 complish this as a properly regulated Anthracite 

 fire ; and so much is this appreciated here that 

 many persons keep a jood tire night and day. 

 from the setting in of the winter to the opening 

 of spring. The convenience ol having a fire 

 whether in a chanb?r, parlor or kitchen, which 

 will burn for 12 or 15 hours at an even tem- 

 perature without adding I'uel or attention ofanv 

 kind need not be pointed out, — in nurseries, hos- 

 pitals and the chamber of the invalid this com- 

 fort will be felt aud acknowledged. 



It makes a pure and healthy fire, ftee from 

 smoke or any other noxious or ini|deasant ef- 

 fluvia or vapour. Those who have heretofore 

 been afflicted with a "smoky house and a scold- 

 ing wife," >vill find in stone coal an effectual 

 remedy for the first if not for the last of these 

 evils; and wilh this pleasing addition they will 

 have a better fire at half the expense of a wood 

 fire. A chimney with Ihe worst draft possible, 

 will do for burning .Anthracite perhaps belter 

 than one wilh a quick draft, for fhe fire burns 

 more steadily and of course the heat is more 

 equal. If there be an ajierture sufficiently large 

 to carry off the small ipjantity of gns disengag- 

 ed in the combustion ol' stone coal, it is all that 

 is required. 



1 have seen a fire of our coal burning delijht- 

 fully in an open grate in a large open kitchen 

 fire-place, within which half a dozen people 

 might stand amund the fire, the chimney of 

 which smi'ked to such a degree with a wood-fire 

 it was almost impossible to slay in the room. — 

 The fire-place was entirely open, and no draft 

 whatever applied to the fire except when ignil- 



To sum u[) the whole, it may safely be affirm- 

 ed that no fuel yet discovered combines so ma- 

 ny good qualities for all domestic purposes, 

 whether for cheapness, pleasantness and safely 

 as the Anthracite of Pennsylvania. Those fa- 

 miliar wilh the mysteries of the kitchen know 

 the vahie of a fire which will give a permanent 

 regular heat for many hours together without 

 being reneued or stirred ; and that will not in- 

 jure their \ lands either in appearance or fla- 

 vour by smoke and dust. For professional men. 

 shop-keepfi:-, mechanics and others, who have 

 their olTices at a distance from their homes and 

 have not servants to take care of their fires in 

 their absence, to be aide to visit their patienls. 

 attend court, or go to their meals, and after be- 

 ing absent many hours, to return to a good fiie 

 and warm room, will be a great convenience. 



In estimating the benefits to be derived from 

 the general introduction and use of stone coal. 

 we ought not to overlook the relief and com- 

 fort it will be to the afflicted, the indigent and 

 the improvident. The Philanthropist may re- 

 joice that miiny who have heretofore suffered 

 much under the inclemency of our severe ivin- 

 ters I'rom want of fuel, will soon, at a small ex- 

 pense be able to keep a safe and comfortable 

 fire ; and that a considerable portion of the 

 earnings of the labouring poor that may he sav- 

 ed by the use of coal, may be appropriated to 



ditch of five feet in width and three feet in 

 depth, and leaving an offset of nine inches, sod- 

 ded the ("ace of the bank, fronting on Ihe road, 

 of a western exposure. The bank was topped 

 by a lence of two old rails. The sodding ha« 

 stood well (he effect of three winters; the off- 

 set peeled away by the post, which has induced 

 me to dispense with it, and sod entirely to the 

 bottom of the ditch. The height from llic bot- 

 tom of the ditch to the lop of the bank, is now 

 eight feet ; two rails niake about two feet more, 

 which is ten leel in the whole. An enclosure 

 thus made is proof .'igainsl the inroads ofall kinds 

 of trespassing animtils. If the |iuncheoiis aie of 

 locust, and the rails chestnut, it will I is(, with 

 very trifling repairs, for half a century; where 

 locust and chestnut cannot be hail, oak railing 

 will last at least twenly years. Very many ad- 

 vantages might be detailed as boloriging to this 

 mode of enclosure. Nobody burns it — nobody 

 steals if, and if any part should fill down, it will 

 remain where it (alls, till put up again. I would 

 recommend the banks to be tnade early in winter, 

 so as to become well settled, before dressing and 

 sodding in the spring. If the crown oflhet.ank 

 was to be opened wilh a trench, and then I'-Acd 

 up with good moulil, and ced.ir being sowed 

 therein so as to [irodiice a hedge, the effect 

 would be bcaiiliful, and the whole work an al- 

 fair tor posterity. 



Of the wooden sealed shoes, my dear sir. — 

 Tliey have done most fiimously. Of all the 

 modern ecotiomics, they are the chet d"oeuvre. 

 My leather dealer's account has stood ("or the 

 l.isl three years, in proportion to the times of 

 lealher soals, as gaO to j^iOO — say 75 per cent. 

 .My people at first apjnehended broken shins, 

 br<)!<en necks, and all "• the ills (hat llesh is heir 

 to'' — but now declare that nothing could induce 

 lliem to return to leather bniloms. I'his fact :s 

 liotloined on the experience of three winter-, 

 ami very wet ones, ;-.nd the rogues now admit 

 that 1 heir feet are ah. ays warm — which, in firm- 

 er days, were always cohl. I have maile an 

 improvement in Ihe mode of ironing these shoes, 

 using broail headed nails in preference to the 

 plates, which were more iiuulo to be knocked 

 off on the frozen ground. 



Of reclaimed marshes, only a word, as my pa- 

 per tells me that I have my full share of com- 

 menication to one number o( your valuable woi k. 

 I attacked an ash pncosin, with Irishmen, some 



other comforts ; — and another convenience to 



the poor will be, coal may be purchased in small I four years ago, dyked and ditched il. wuh a 



ntities suitable to their means, even by a few ; '!) ''^ o( 12 feet at the bass, and 3 feet high, and 



a dilch of 8 feel in width, which kejit out the 

 tide, and drained the surfice sufficiently for cul- 

 tivation. In March a part of it was standing io 



quantities suilatde to itieir means, even by 

 cents worth at a time. 



All ranks and degrees will be benefited by 

 the use of coal. The rich will be gratified by 

 its safety and pleasantness — the poor by its 

 cheapness. Commerce, Manufactures and Agri- 

 culture will receive their proportion of advan- 

 tage. 



From Ihe American Farmer, 



BANKING WITH THE SPADE, 



Together ~joitli a tiling, or titio, on Ihe subject of 

 -jL'ooden soalcd shoes — reclaimed marshes, •^•n. 

 Mr Editor — The value of wood in this part 

 of the country, together with the perishable 

 nature of its fencing, (locust, cedar and chestnut 

 except, which are very expensive,) induced 

 me to try an experiment in banking and ditch- 

 ing, for the pur(i08es of enclosure. I first cut a 



wood, inhabited by vermin of all sorts. The 

 wood was cut off, the brush burnl, and the tirst 

 of June, men brought on their backs bales oi' 

 corn plants (previously sown lor the purpose,) 

 willioiit horse, plough or hoe — they made a hole 

 with a sharpened stick, and thrust in the plants, 

 nil of which lived and flourished, and after re- 

 ceivinj two hoeings to keep down the weeds, 

 the crop ripened to the tune of at least 2U barrels 

 the acre. The corn stood on an average of two 

 I'eet and a half apart, two stalks in the hills; 

 it grew in height from 10 to 13 feet, and vwas 

 perhapi as splendid an exhibition of agricultu- 

 ral luxtriance as any country ever witnessed. — 

 It was indeed a (angleil forest ofcora. Judicious 

 men rated the cicp at more than I have ven- 

 tured to mention, fearing that some agricultural 



